Abilene house hits mark: 101-year-old home receives a historical marker

101-year-old home receives a historical marker

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News
The Swenson House, built in 1910 by W.G. Swenson, was recognized Sunday afternoon as a significant part of Texas history with the unveiling of an official Texas Historical Marker.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News
Bird Thomas (left) celebrates the unveiling of the Texas Historical Marker outside the W.G. and Shirley Swenson House on Sunday afternoon.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

More than 50 Abilene residents were on hand at the Swenson House on Sunday afternoon to witness the unveiling of an official Texas Historical Commission marker.

For those in attendance, the marker only makes official something they already believed: the house built by W.G. Swenson in 1910 is a part of Texas history worth recognizing and preserving.

Anita Lane, chairwoman of the Taylor County Historical Commission, said Sunday's dedication represented the culmination of nearly two years of work.

"To qualify for the marker we had to answer a lot of questions. We began preparing about two years ago, when the house was about to turn 100," Lane said.

According to the Texas Historical Commission website, for a structure to receive a plaque an applicant must "establish, through written and photographic documentation, the historical significance of a structure."

Lane said the group had some difficulty in compiling their application, but not for the typical reasons.

"Thankfully, we had a good problem on our hands. The city of Abilene and the descendants of the Swensons had so much information. Sifting through all the mounds of records took a lot of time, but we eventually found what we needed," Lane said.

Although the 101-year-old house was recognized for its historical value, Lane said the home's present value cannot be overlooked.

"As this house goes, so goes the neighborhood," Lane said.

"It would be so easy for a home like this to fall into disrepair, and that can really ruin a neighborhood. This home, which has been kept up, has actually led to a revitalization of the neighborhood," she said.

An introduction by Abilene Preservation League Executive Director Bill Minter was followed by brief comments from Taylor County Judge Downing Bolls and state Rep. Susan King.

Both spoke about the importance of keeping history alive in Abilene and Taylor County, and passing on the stories of founding families like the Swensons on to other generations.

A new grape arbor, reconstructed in the style of one built on the property in 1928, also was dedicated during the brief ceremony.